Last Thursday Councillors from the Child & Family Services Overview & Scrutiny Board received a Centre for Public Scrutiny award for their work. If you have read previous posts about the work of this board you will know that it has been richly deserved – don’t take our word for it, inspectors and Welsh Assembly Deputy Ministers say the same thing.
As always, the Board sees the interests of vulnerable children as the main story and sees this award as a valuable way of boosting their work in this context.
- Swansea councillors receiving their award! Photo courtesy of the Centre for Public Scrutiny
Here is the Council press release in full:
COUNCILLORS in Swansea who are helping make a difference to the lives of vulnerable children have been crowned the UK’s Scrutiny Team of the Year.
Swansea Council’s Child and Family Services Overview and Scrutiny Board secured the accolade at the annual Good Scrutiny Awards in London.
The Council’s Child and Family Services Overview and Scrutiny Board was established two years ago in the wake of critical reports of the council’s services. It’s aim was to help in the drive to improve the support the authority gives to vulnerable young people.
Since then the service has been transformed and Mark Child, who chaired the board until he stepped down last month, said he was delighted that its work had been recognised across the UK.
Cllr Child said: “The most important thing for the board has always been safeguarding the interests of vulnerable children and their families. But it is pleasing the work that’s been done has been recognised as an example of good practice right across the UK.”
Cllr Paxton Hood Williams, who stepped up from vice-Chair to take over from Cllr Child added: “As a team we have been able to make a significant contribution to improvement in Child and Family Services in properly protecting and supporting vulnerable children.
“This award will help spur us on to continue to work in the best interests of children right across the city.”
The board has already drawn praise from Welsh Assembly Government Ministers and the Care and Social Services Inspectorate for Wales (CSSIW) for its ability to overcome political differences and work together in the interests of children.
The Good Scrutiny Awards are organised by the UK’s Centre for Public Scrutiny (CFPS), an organisation which promotes scrutiny and accountability as a way to improve the quality of public services.
It is supported by the Local Government Association and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.
Presentation to the Board at a Council Meeting
Congratulations! I’m sure this award is very well deserved.